Category Archive

Music Museum, Brussels Music Museum, Brussels

Sensational!!! Extraordinary!!!! These are two of the words that one can use to describe this incredible museum. Inaugurated in 1877, the collection initially consisted of 100 Indian instruments gifted to the Belgian king in 1876, and the purchase of musicologist, Francois – Joseph Fetis’ collection in 1872. Initially used for the sole purpose of introducing […]

Brussels, Belgium Brussels, Belgium

Grote Markt(Grand Place), Royal Palace, Museum of the Black Sisters and Basilica. Having been advised it was far too dangerous to ride our bikes within the city centre , Bob and I chose to make use of the rail network: apparently, drivers have a bit of what we call road rage when it comes to cyclists […]

Klein Willebroek to Brussels, Belgium Klein Willebroek to Brussels, Belgium

Upon the relatively straight Zeekanaal Brussel Schelde, one lock, several lifting bridges and plenty of others beneath which we easily passed led us along a mostly industrial section of waterway, interspersed by a town here and there, or an occasional field. The twenty kilometres easily travelled, Gratis arrived at the Brussels Royal Yacht Club. Thirty metres […]

Lier to Klein Willebroek, Belgium Lier to Klein Willebroek, Belgium

Another 20km day of travel took us through the Duffel Lock and onto the tidal Beneden Nete. The lock at Duffel had more than enough bollards evenly spaced within the walls and presented no problems as the water level lowered. Another friendly lock operator informed us of bridge heights and wished us the best of […]

Space and Time Museum, Lier: Belgium Space and Time Museum, Lier: Belgium

After wending our way through the streets to the market square, where a major clean up was taking place after celebrations that incorporated the town’s giants, our first stop was the 14th century Zimmer Tower and its Wonderclock at the time and space museum. The son of a watchmaker and born in Lier in 1888, […]

Antwerp to Lier, Belgium Antwerp to Lier, Belgium

Informed by the harbourmaster that the bridge out of the marina would be closed Sunday, our departure was moved forward to this morning. We had to take a snapshot of this. Locks, how you love and hate them! No matter where you are, no two locks are the same, which means the cruiser must prepared […]

Peerdsbos, Belgium Peerdsbos, Belgium

A 10km ride took us from Antwerp to the edge of the Peerdsbos, a delightful nature area that was created when the land forming a number of manors once owned by the nobility was taken over the by the state. Once an area of woods, field and meadows, polders and dikes were created to provide […]

Museums of Antwerp: Antwerp, Belgium Museums of Antwerp: Antwerp, Belgium

We discovered a secret. On the last Wednesday of every month, entry to Antwerp’s museums is free and we made the most of it.   MAS Museum Each floor dealt with a different display. That showcasing items from various cultures held our interest most. From the top floor, there was quite a view. Can you find […]

Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands to Antwerp, Belgium Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands to Antwerp, Belgium

This day saw us re – entering Belgium, via the Schelde – Rijn Canal. One easy lock, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slUTOMf5Sro&feature=youtu.be One of the reasons why a boat must be secured. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43zKDSKF_s&feature=youtu.be and a lifting bridge or two made for an easy 40km or so motor. Large ships were towed in by tug. The building at the bridge […]

Back in the Netherlands and Last of Ghent Online Back in the Netherlands and Last of Ghent Online

With the fuel barge not open to customers on Sundays and the Netherlands proving to have the best price, to Terneuzen Bob and I have returned, and shall remain for a few additional unexpected days. It seems that this is the year for items to break down. Late Saturday evening, the fridge had a hissy […]

Klein Beguinage and Rabot: Ghent, Belgium Klein Beguinage and Rabot: Ghent, Belgium

  As crowds poured into the township, it was bedlam: a case a kamikaze for those on bikes, as they avoided the pedestrians who, without looking, stepped off curbs and suddenly appeared in front of them. If one prefers a quieter visit, Monday to Thursday is the key we decided. It was to an older […]

Church of St Jacob, Great St Elizabeth Beguinage, Gentbrugse Meersen, St Baafsabbij: Ghent, Belgium Church of St Jacob, Great St Elizabeth Beguinage, Gentbrugse Meersen, St Baafsabbij: Ghent, Belgium

One of the oldest parishes in the town of Ghent, St Jacob was named after St James the greater, the patron saint of pilgrims. People still depart from here on their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We found the image of the woman being led to her hanging an interesting one in the […]

Design Museum, Town Hall and STA’M, Stadsmuseum, Ghent: Belgium Design Museum, Town Hall and STA’M, Stadsmuseum, Ghent: Belgium

It was time to visit the museums today. First on the rank was the Design Museum. It certainly wasn’t what we expected, which was the changing of design and innovation in the region over the centuries. This was really a modern art exhibition showing the works of a few successful minimalist artists, through a variety […]

Stedelijk Natuurreservaat Bourgoyen – Ossemeeresen and Mariakerke, Belgium Stedelijk Natuurreservaat Bourgoyen – Ossemeeresen and Mariakerke, Belgium

Bordering the southern edge of Mariakerke, once a small township roughly five kilometres north west of Ghent, is the Bourgoyen – Ossemeeresen nature reserve of 600+ hectares. This was our destination for the day, and a pleasant change to the hustle and bustle of Ghent. Cycling – or walking – through the landscapes, listening to […]

Ghent, Belgium Ghent, Belgium

Castle of the Counts, St Nicholas’ Church, the Belfry, Roeland’s Bell, and St Bavo’s Cathedral It may sound a lot, but Bob and took our time. The Castle of the Counts is the last remaining bastion from the 10th century medieval period that still retains much of its defence structure. This section of land on […]

Terneuzen, Netherlands to Ghent, Belgium Terneuzen, Netherlands to Ghent, Belgium

Today was the day! By day’s end Gratis would be in Belgium. What excitement! The land of Belgian chocolate, Flanders Fields, Belgian beer and more!!!!!!! It was a pleasant 40km motor upon a waterway that was practically empty of commercial barges: it was Sunday and most – including the fuelling station just outside Terneuzen – […]

2017 Journey 2017 Journey

Preparing this year’s route from Spandau, Germany to Basel, Switzerland. We thought the mapping for last year was a bit tricky. Working out the best route through Holland and Belgium is even more difficult! It turns out, the shortest route is heading upstream via mostly rivers. Hmmmmmmm!!!!!!!! Maybe not the fastest after all. Need to […]